Latest news with #ThePrincessDianaMuseum
Mint
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Woman faints after winning Princess Diana's iconic ‘Caring Dress' an auction in Beverly Hills
In an emotional moment that left a room full of collectors and royal enthusiasts applauding, a woman fainted after successfully winning Princess Diana's iconic 'Caring Dress' at auction — a reaction that has since gone viral online. The emotional scene unfolded at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills on June 26 during the "Princess Diana's Style & A Royal Collection" sale. Renae Plant, the founder of The Princess Diana Museum, was seated in the front row with bidder number 333, anxiously watching the bids climb from an initial $125,000 to an astonishing $400,000. With added fees, the final amount reached $520,000. As the auctioneer's gavel fell and the dress was declared hers, Plant jumped to her feet in sheer joy, shouted 'Oh my god!', and promptly fainted from the overwhelming rush of emotion. The moment was captured on video, showing her both laughing and crying as the room broke into applause and staff quickly attended to her. The dress, designed by Bellville Sassoon in 1988, is known affectionately as the 'Caring Dress.' Princess Diana wore it repeatedly between 1988 and 1992 during visits to hospitals and charitable organisations. Its colourful blue silk design, with bright rainbow flowers, was meant to appear warm, friendly, and huggable — reflecting Diana's famously approachable nature. For Renae Plant, the win was more than a collector's achievement. It was deeply personal. She recalled meeting Princess Diana at age 18 outside St. Andrews Cathedral in Sydney. Dressed in a bikini top and shorts, she had abandoned her beach plans for a chance encounter with the royal icon — a memory that has stayed with her ever since. 'This wasn't just a dress,' said an onlooker at the auction. 'It was a connection to history, and you could see just how much it meant to her.' Auction house representatives confirmed that the dress was one of the sale's highlights, not only for its royal significance but also for the outpouring of emotion it triggered. As fans across social media shared the footage, many commented on the purity and joy of the moment, calling it 'the kind of good news the internet needs.' With this purchase, Plant not only adds an important item to her museum's collection but also honours the memory of a princess whose style, compassion, and spirit continue to inspire millions around the world.
Sydney Morning Herald
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australian collector buys Princess Diana's ‘caring dress' for $520,000
An Australian collector of Princess Diana memorabilia has purchased the iconic 'caring dress' at auction for US$520,000 (approximately AU$794,000), 37 years after the purchaser met the princess wearing the dress. Renae Plant – who manages an archive of 2700 Diana pieces as well as the virtual Princess Diana Museum – fell to the floor crying after placing the final US$400,000 bid (plus US$120,000 in fees) for the Bellville Sassoon dress designed for then-prince Charles and Diana's 1988 tour of Australia to mark the bicentenary. The floral day dress was expected to sell for between US$200,000 and US$300,000 according to pre-auction documents. It received its nickname after Diana wore it repeatedly to visit hospitals across the world, including in Nigeria, Brazil and Spain, says designer David Sassoon. On the website for The Princess Diana Museum, Plant says she met the royal couple as a teenager during their 1983 and 1988 tours, and shook hands with the princess while she was wearing the dress at St Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney. 'When Diana saw me she reached up over the crowd and shook my hand!! As you can imagine, that was a dream come true, and definitely the beginning of a long journey … a lifelong passion for the Princess,' Plant wrote. 'Over the years, people have asked why Diana is so important to me. Here's why: Diana stood for change … She was the first royal to remove her gloves and shake the public's hands. That was huge. She brought much-needed attention and sympathy to the AIDS crisis, helping to diminish the fear and stigma associated with the disease … I can think of no one who has the same positive effect on the world that Diana did during the short time she was alive.' Plant also operates the Princess and the Platypus Foundation – named after a ceramic platypus she says Diana dropped in 1983, which Plant still has today – a charity that raises money to acquire and maintain pieces for the museum, and donate to charities in Diana's honour. Earlier in June, the museum's Instagram page posted a fundraising callout to raise money for the dress.
The Age
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Australian collector buys Princess Diana's ‘caring dress' for $520,000
An Australian collector of Princess Diana memorabilia has purchased the iconic 'caring dress' at auction for US$520,000 (approximately AU$794,000), 37 years after the purchaser met the princess wearing the dress. Renae Plant – who manages an archive of 2700 Diana pieces as well as the virtual Princess Diana Museum – fell to the floor crying after placing the final US$400,000 bid (plus US$120,000 in fees) for the Bellville Sassoon dress designed for then-prince Charles and Diana's 1988 tour of Australia to mark the bicentenary. The floral day dress was expected to sell for between US$200,000 and US$300,000 according to pre-auction documents. It received its nickname after Diana wore it repeatedly to visit hospitals across the world, including in Nigeria, Brazil and Spain, says designer David Sassoon. On the website for The Princess Diana Museum, Plant says she met the royal couple as a teenager during their 1983 and 1988 tours, and shook hands with the princess while she was wearing the dress at St Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney. 'When Diana saw me she reached up over the crowd and shook my hand!! As you can imagine, that was a dream come true, and definitely the beginning of a long journey … a lifelong passion for the Princess,' Plant wrote. 'Over the years, people have asked why Diana is so important to me. Here's why: Diana stood for change … She was the first royal to remove her gloves and shake the public's hands. That was huge. She brought much-needed attention and sympathy to the AIDS crisis, helping to diminish the fear and stigma associated with the disease … I can think of no one who has the same positive effect on the world that Diana did during the short time she was alive.' Plant also operates the Princess and the Platypus Foundation – named after a ceramic platypus she says Diana dropped in 1983, which Plant still has today – a charity that raises money to acquire and maintain pieces for the museum, and donate to charities in Diana's honour. Earlier in June, the museum's Instagram page posted a fundraising callout to raise money for the dress.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Time is Running Out to Preserve Princess Diana's Legacy
The Princess Diana Museum Urges Immediate Donations Ahead of June 26 Auction LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Princess & The Platypus Foundation, the nonprofit behind The Princess Diana Museum, is making an urgent appeal ahead of a critical auction deadline. On June 26, 2025, Julien's Auctions will release a rare group of Princess Diana's personal items to the highest bidder—unless the Foundation can raise the necessary funds to preserve them for public access and future generations. The Foundation—owner and curator of the world's largest private collection of over 2,700 authenticated artifacts from Diana's life—is working quickly to secure these newly available, historically significant items before they are lost to private collectors. "These are not just objects for investment opportunists—they are a part of history and need to be preserved," said Renae Plant, Founder of The Princess Diana Museum. "They represent Diana's compassion, courage, and humanity. We must all come together now to keep them accessible to the world. Once they're gone, they could disappear from public view forever." For Plant, this mission is deeply personal. "My connection to Diana began in childhood," said Plant. "When I was twelve, I had the unforgettable opportunity to meet her during a visit to Australia. As she stepped into a black Rolls-Royce, she dropped a tiny clay platypus onto the ground. I rushed to return it, but a nearby policeman gently closed my hand and said, 'She must have dropped it to give it to you.' That quiet, graceful moment stayed with me — and unknowingly set me on the path to protect her legacy, not just with admiration, but with purpose." Plant met Diana a second time in Sydney in 1988, a moment forever tied to the now-iconic "Caring Dress," a bright blue colorful ensemble Diana frequently wore while visiting hospitals, children and humanitarian causes. "It was the dress she wore when she met me again," said Plant. "It has become a lasting symbol of her kindness, compassion, and commitment to others. It represents everything The Princess Diana Museum is about." "In October 2018, I was deeply honored to receive a letter from HRH Prince William and HRH Prince Harry, thanking me for informing them about the museum and my efforts to honor their mother's legacy. They shared that they were "most touched" by the work we are doing — a sentiment that moved me deeply and continues to guide every step I take in this journey" said Plant. The nonprofit's mission is to honor Diana's legacy through preservation, education, and charitable giving. The collection includes garments, handwritten letters, charity correspondence, and personal effects that span Diana's life—from her teenage years through her decades of humanitarian work. The Foundation has collaborated on major exhibitions with world-renowned institutions, including Historic Royal Palaces at Kensington Palace and The Kunstmuseum Den Haag. Beginning in 2026, it will launch a multi-year global tour of the collection, culminating in the creation of a permanent public exhibit in the United Kingdom. Immediate Action NeededWith just days left before the auction, the Foundation is calling on donors, sponsors, and supporters to help ensure these cultural treasures remain available to the public. Donations can be made directly to the Foundation PayPal account here: [ *All donations are tax deductible, according to California State and IRS Federal Regulations for non-profits and to the maximum specified on those regulations applicable in the United States of America. For international donors, please check with your local and state authorities. Thank you for your in kind contribution. About The Princess Diana MuseumFounded in 2018, The Princess Diana Museum is a global initiative of The Princess & The Platypus Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in California, USA. Through the preservation of Diana's personal artifacts and support of children's charities in her name, the museum seeks to educate, inspire, and carry forward her legacy of kindness, compassion, and global impact. Media Inquiries & Interviews: Renae PlantEmail: 396356@ Phone: 310-346-1303 Website: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Princess Diana Museum Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Time is Running Out to Preserve Princess Diana's Legacy
The Princess Diana Museum Urges Immediate Donations Ahead of June 26 Auction LOS ANGELES, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Princess & The Platypus Foundation, the nonprofit behind The Princess Diana Museum, is making an urgent appeal ahead of a critical auction deadline. On June 26, 2025, Julien's Auctions will release a rare group of Princess Diana's personal items to the highest bidder—unless the Foundation can raise the necessary funds to preserve them for public access and future generations. The Foundation—owner and curator of the world's largest private collection of over 2,700 authenticated artifacts from Diana's life—is working quickly to secure these newly available, historically significant items before they are lost to private collectors. "These are not just objects for investment opportunists—they are a part of history and need to be preserved," said Renae Plant, Founder of The Princess Diana Museum. "They represent Diana's compassion, courage, and humanity. We must all come together now to keep them accessible to the world. Once they're gone, they could disappear from public view forever." For Plant, this mission is deeply personal. "My connection to Diana began in childhood," said Plant. "When I was twelve, I had the unforgettable opportunity to meet her during a visit to Australia. As she stepped into a black Rolls-Royce, she dropped a tiny clay platypus onto the ground. I rushed to return it, but a nearby policeman gently closed my hand and said, 'She must have dropped it to give it to you.' That quiet, graceful moment stayed with me — and unknowingly set me on the path to protect her legacy, not just with admiration, but with purpose." Plant met Diana a second time in Sydney in 1988, a moment forever tied to the now-iconic "Caring Dress," a bright blue colorful ensemble Diana frequently wore while visiting hospitals, children and humanitarian causes. "It was the dress she wore when she met me again," said Plant. "It has become a lasting symbol of her kindness, compassion, and commitment to others. It represents everything The Princess Diana Museum is about." "In October 2018, I was deeply honored to receive a letter from HRH Prince William and HRH Prince Harry, thanking me for informing them about the museum and my efforts to honor their mother's legacy. They shared that they were "most touched" by the work we are doing — a sentiment that moved me deeply and continues to guide every step I take in this journey" said Plant. The nonprofit's mission is to honor Diana's legacy through preservation, education, and charitable giving. The collection includes garments, handwritten letters, charity correspondence, and personal effects that span Diana's life—from her teenage years through her decades of humanitarian work. The Foundation has collaborated on major exhibitions with world-renowned institutions, including Historic Royal Palaces at Kensington Palace and The Kunstmuseum Den Haag. Beginning in 2026, it will launch a multi-year global tour of the collection, culminating in the creation of a permanent public exhibit in the United Kingdom. Immediate Action NeededWith just days left before the auction, the Foundation is calling on donors, sponsors, and supporters to help ensure these cultural treasures remain available to the public. Donations can be made directly to the Foundation PayPal account here: [ *All donations are tax deductible, according to California State and IRS Federal Regulations for non-profits and to the maximum specified on those regulations applicable in the United States of America. For international donors, please check with your local and state authorities. Thank you for your in kind contribution. About The Princess Diana MuseumFounded in 2018, The Princess Diana Museum is a global initiative of The Princess & The Platypus Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in California, USA. Through the preservation of Diana's personal artifacts and support of children's charities in her name, the museum seeks to educate, inspire, and carry forward her legacy of kindness, compassion, and global impact. Media Inquiries & Interviews: Renae PlantEmail: 396356@ Phone: 310-346-1303 Website: View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Princess Diana Museum Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
